Work Just Got Personal

work just got personal infographic

As the initial shock wears off and we begin to settle into a new daily rhythm, many of us are asking: how do we feel more in control when things around us seem out of control? How do we create new routines to help us be at our best for those who rely on us? How do we stay productive, focused, and positive?

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Being Purposeful: Applying Yourself to What Matters Most with Vic Strecher

vic on harvesting happiness

Being Purposeful: Applying Yourself to What Matters Most

Dr. Strecher joined joined Lisa Cypers Kamen on her podcast Harvesting Happiness to discuss what it means to be Purposeful, and to engage in a discussion about the latest scientific research into the physical and emotional wellbeing benefits of living a Purposeful life. This episode was recorded at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business Positive Business Conference.

Harvesting Happiness

● Dr. Strecher explains why people who live with purpose or are more purposeful live longer. [2:11]

● Is it impossible to be sustainably happy hedonically? [8:40]

● Dr. Strecher describes what it is like to ignite purpose in others. [15:52]

● Bringing love into the lives of college students and young people can reduce suicidal thoughts and help them flourish. [22:29]

● Considering your death can lead to living your best life every day. [29:56]

● How do you build more purpose-driven organizations? [35:29]

● Attaining work/life purpose through SPACE. [41:35]

● How volunteering during a gap year can add purpose to your life. [47:02]

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Posttraumatic Growth and Living a Purposeful Life

an infographic featuring the five benefits of having a transcendent purpose

Posttraumatic Growth and Living a Purposeful Life

Kumanu Founder and CEO Dr. Vic Strecher shares his insights on the role purpose plays in our lives during these complicated times, COVID-19, and Posttraumatic Growth

1. “I discovered that I’m stronger than I thought I was.”
 
2. “I changed my priorities about what is important in life.”
 
3. “I established a new path for my life.”
 
These three statements are part of a larger scale measuring Posttraumatic Growth. The media loves to talk about Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), but can we grow from stress? The answer is clear: absolutely. Research studies have demonstrated posttraumatic growth after earthquakes, tsunamis, war, cancer, and loss of loved ones. We can also grow from our experience with COVID-19.
 
Let’s look at Statement 1. Friedrich Nietzsche famously said: “That which does not kill us makes us stronger.” Are you dead? If you’re reading this, perhaps you can stop and reflect on the what you might learn from the COVID-19 experience. What have you done that you feel has been successful in diminishing the effects of COVID-19? How will this experience make you more aware and better prepared for future pandemics (which will almost doubtlessly occur)? In psychology, this ability is called self-efficacy, and the strongest way to build self-efficacy is through previous accomplishments. How will you become stronger as a result of this experience?
 
Now let’s turn to Statements 2 and 3. Taking a fresh look at what matters most in your life, and establishing a new path, is all about purpose. And what if it was a self-transcending purpose? What if life is less about the NCAA basketball tournament, and more about finding new ways of interacting with your family? What if life is less about stripping the shelves bare of hand sanitizer, and more about helping other people and healthcare and community organizations cope with the extraordinary challenges they face?
 
Research has demonstrated that people with self-transcending purpose produce more antibodies (which come in handy in a pandemic). Strength of purpose, produced through regular compassion toward others — even those we don’t like —  has been shown to increase telomerase, the fuel of our telomeres – the chromosomal “caps” that keep our DNA (and us) healthy. 
 
One thing we know about COVID-19 is that people are differentially susceptible to its effects. We don’t know whether having a self-transcending purpose can buffer the effects of COVID-19, but it probably doesn’t hurt to try.
 
Stop and think about a time in your life when you experienced the greatest amount of personal growth? Was it when you were on the beach drinking martinis? Or was it from a period of great challenge? Consider using the challenge of COVID-19 to build strength and self-transcending purpose. Let’s grow from this experience.
 
Best,
 
Vic

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Authenticity: How Purpose Helps Leaders Lead

a woman empowers purpose in her team during a meeitng

Empowering purpose means encouraging your employees to identify their own purpose and values. It also means giving them the support, both personally and professionally. Simply telling employees that they need to have a purpose does not work; as a Purposeful Leader, you must empower and inspire them to seek out their purpose for themselves.

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Purposefully Scaling Agile in Your Organization

image showing young professionals working together in an agile project management framework

How can business leaders cope with uncertainty? It takes visionary leadership, rapid response to change, flexibility, versatility, and resilience – in other words, it’s not easy. However, integrating agile project management frameworks across departments can give your organization an edge in today’s dynamic business conditions.

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Physical and Emotional Wellbeing at Work

woman taking a break from a business meeting to play her trumpet

Every year, more employers are recognizing the importance of offering an employee wellbeing program. In fact, a report from the National Business Group on Health from 2018 discovered the average amount spent on employee incentives for these types of programs have increased to $784 per employee (a 50% jump since 2013), and 67% of employers plan to expand their wellbeing solutions over the next three to five years.

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